Discover birds and wildlife on a guided tour that visits Sea Elephant River, the calcified forest. Explore King Island and indulge in excellent cheeses.
Situated in the Bass Strait, midway between Victoria and Tasmania, King Island is surrounded by shipwrecks and long sandy beaches, with some of the freshest air and friendliest locals anywhere. The island is home to 10 of the 12 Tasmanian endemic bird species, 5 of which are considered endemic subspecies of King Island. We will also seek out the critically endangered King Island Brown Thornbill, with its enormous bill and beautiful voice. Flocks of wild American Turkeys, Indian Peafowl, Common Pheasant, California Quail and migratory shorebirds complete the set for this eclectic island.
A trip to King Island is not just about the wildlife, we will also visit the islands most famous sites such as Sea Elephant River, the calcified forest and of course indulge in a King Island Cheese tasting.
3 nights en suite accommodation, specialist guiding and land transport on King Island for day and night tours as outlined above including airport transfers, all meals and activities as outlined in the itinerary. Also includes entry fees and GST.
Airfares, activities and meals not mentioned above, alcoholic beverages and expenses of a personal nature (snacks, travel insurance, internet, laundry, tips etc).
Please note: Whilst we aim to follow the itinerary as planned, please note that the itinerary provided should only be used as a guideline. Depending on individual trip circumstances, weather, and local information, the exact itinerary may not be strictly adhered to. The guides reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary as they see fit.
Download the itinerary brochure for the King Island Bass Strait Birds & Wildlife tour.
Download (pdf 857.23 KB)There are terms and conditions relating to payments, cancellations, refunds, insurance and responsibility for our tours.
Here's what you'll see and do on the King Island Bass Strait Birds & Wildlife tour.
Today is set aside as an arrival day. For those participants who are joining us from Hobart, the flight you will need to book is Sharp Airlines flight SH934 to King Island (14:30 - 15:45).
Sharp Airlines also offers a flight from Essendon Airport, Melbourne this afternoon for participants wishing to join the tour from here (SH926 15:00-15:45). flight costs from Launceston or Melbourne are not included in tour package. We will meet this evening at 18:30 for a welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Currie (en suite rooms)
Meals included: D
Today we will start exploring the island. Our first stop will be the main town of Currie where you can start to get a feel for island life. We will spend most of the day exploring the west coast, primarily looking for shorebirds and searching out the first of the King Island specialties. Echidnas can also be found here. A tasting at the fromagerie, King Island Dairy is a must before checking into our accommodation in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Currie (en suite rooms)
Meals included: B L D
Today we will continue to explore the southern half of the island as this is where we will see most of our target bird species. We will spend time walking and driving through Pegarah State Forest and Sea Elephant Conservation Area. Pegarah contains some of the oldest forest on the island and is home to the critically endangered King Island subspecies of the Brown Thornbill and Scrubtit. While the RAMSAR site at Sea Elephant Conservation Reserve is a stunning estuary, rich in birdlife.
After dinner tonight, we will take a night excursion to visit the Little Penguin colony at Grassy Point and spotlight for mammals (Bennett’s Wallaby, Tasmanian Pademelon, Long-nosed Potoroos and Brush-tailed Possums).
Accommodation: Currie (en suite rooms)
Meals included: B L D
For our final day on the island, we will head north, visit some key birdwatching sites such as Lavinia State reserve, and visiting some of King Islands most famous sights. At the impressive Cape Wickham lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in the southern hemisphere, we will look for Nankeen Kestrel, Richards Pipit and the flocks of Wild Turkeys and California Quail for which King Island is well known.
Disappointment Bay and Yellow Rock Beach promise further excellent opportunities for seabirds, shorebirds, bush-birds and stunning views. We will head back to the airport late morning for our afternoon flights back to Hobart (SH933 13:10-14:25) or Melbourne (SH927 16:15-17:00). (airfares not included in tour cost).
Accommodation: none (we can arrange additional accommodation in King Island, Hobart or Melbourne tonight as required).
Meals included: B L
